Tag Archives: Freedom in Christ

Prayers that will Help You Thank God for the Gift of Freedom

Do you ever feel like you're dragging around a weight? That's how I started this week. But then I prayed repeatedly - Jesus set me free. I am truly free! #Prayer #Freedom #ThankGod

Do you ever feel like you’re dragging around a weight?

That’s how I started this week. My body ached and my thoughts were a swamp of past and present struggles.

It was time to go to war!

I don’t often pray out loud, but on this day I needed to hear the cries of my heart and as I lifted my pleas the Spirit whispered the truth that I had once again picked up the chain of anger and unforgiveness.

No wonder I felt burdened – those are heavy restraints to carry around.

Don’t you just hate it when the enemy brings up the past trying to defeat your present? Yeah, me too!

So, I spoke my battle cries … telling that demon to leave me alone because I am free in Christ! Then I surrendered my anger, praised God for forgiving me although I don’t deserve it, and cried out my willingness to forgive those who had hurt me.

And then, I repeated the words again and again until they’d worked there way into every cell from the top of my head to the tip of my toes…

Jesus set me free. I am truly free!

My chains are gone! (Don’t you love that arrangement of Amazing Grace?)

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
 ~ Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, Stan Walker, David Pritchard-Blunt

Freedom in Christ – Our greatest reason for thanksgiving!

Please join me as I pray:

Pray until you believe - Jesus set me free. I am truly free! #Prayer #Freedom #ThankGod

Prayers Thanking God for the Gift of Freedom

 John 8:36 

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Father, through Jesus, I am set free from the eternal consequences of my sin. I am forgiven. Because of Jesus, I am free to forgive others. I am truly forever and always free to celebrate Your love with joy. Thank you! Amen.

Ephesians 1:7

He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.

Father, it cost the life of Your Son. I can’t imagine. You are One—equal and eternal. You willingly lived in this sin-filled world, suffered and died because of love. Life-giving self-sacrifice that gives me freedom. Thanks and praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 8:31–32

Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

Father, thank you for Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life. What an amazing gift You gave through Your Word made flesh. Thank you for inspiring writers to record Jesus’ life and teachings so Your children generations later might know the truth that gives freedom. Freedom to love and forgive because You love and forgive us. I thank and praise You, Lord of all. Amen.

2 Corinthians 3:17

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

Oh, Father. Thank you for giving Your Spirit. I would be so lost and confused without the whispers and promptings of Your Spirit. Forgive me for foolishly choosing to grab up my chains and drag them around when You have given everything that I might be free. What grace that Your Spirit calls me back to freedom gently lifting my chains as He releases me to live with faith, hope, and love. Amen.

Prayers that will Help You Thank God for the Gift of Freedom - #Prayer #Freedom #ThankGod

Psalm 103:11–13

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to His children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. 

Father, Your unfailing love is beyond comprehension. Your sin-removing grace overwhelms me. Perfect Father, You are tender and kind. Thank you! Your blessings cover my life and meet my every need. I surrender my all to You. I love You. I praise You. In the freedom giving power of the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

My friends, you and I have so many reasons to celebrate with thanksgiving.

We are free in Jesus! Free indeed!

Now it’s time to share your links and visit your friends…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

Counting My Blessings

I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun!

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Deb Wolf
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Feature Post

I’m excited to share the following posts with you this week.

4 Keys to Life Changing Relationships

by Katie Deckert

@ Hospitable Homemaker

4 Keys to Life Changing Relationships by Katie Deckert

10 Possibly Weird Things I’m Oddly Thankful For

by Elizabeth Spencer

@ Guilty Chocoholic Mama

10 Possibly Weird Things I'm Oddly Thankful For by Elizabeth Spencer

What If…

by Rachel Lee

@ Be Thee Inspired

What If... by Rachel Lee
Trading Anxiety for Peace

by Sarah Geringer

@ Finding Peace in God’s Word

Trading Anxiety for Peace by Sarah Geringer

 

Thank you, Katie, Elizabeth, Rachel, and Sarah for partying with us!

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above or link back to CMB.

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May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship! 

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

May we pray for you

and pray over the list left by our friends.

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Have you visited the Faith ‘n Friends Link Pary Board! It’s a great place to catch up with past posts you may have missed here at the party and/or save them for a future read! If you’d like to become a contributor to my Pinterest Group Boards – email me at deb@debwolf.com with a link to your Pinterest home page.

I’m always looking for stories that will encourage and inspire readers to live in faith, stay faithful in hope, and find joy in loving Jesus and others. If you’re interested in sharing your story here at Counting My Blessings –check out my Contributor Guidelines page. 

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

Thank you and God bless!

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Important Truth from The Faith Project Adventure

When I began The Faith Project I had no idea where the adventure would lead me. Now we're half-way and I've discovered and grown. Here are the highlights.

When I began The Faith Project I had no idea where the adventure would lead me. In the first post of the year, I shared two basic commandments for the year:

  1. To grow in faith and love for God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; with a desire to be completely devoted to Him in heart, soul, mind, and strength.
  2. To grow in the living out of my faith-filled love for God by loving others.

We’re halfway… Seriously, can you believe it?!

So far, you’ve joined me as I explored:

1. Freedom – to know that through Jesus I’m completely forgiven.

Freedom, real freedom in Christ Jesus, is an amazing gift from God . . . one to wholeheartedly embrace 24/7.

Living in that freedom means rejecting the enemy when he challenges me with old guilts, celebrating God’s grace and mercy, and sharing it by loving and forgiving others the way I’ve been loved and forgiven.

I am learning to resist the enemy when he challenges me with the past and I’m intentionally celebrating the blessing of the freedom I enjoy through Jesus.

We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law. Galatians 5:1

2. Love – to reach out through acts of service and share God’s love with others.

Learning about God’s love is easy. Learning to love like Jesus . . . that’s harder. Digging into loving difficult people, strangers, or the people who confront me, that’s hardest.

I’m so thankful for God’s faithful forgiveness when I fail to love well and for the blessing of opportunities to try again tomorrow. I want to love better even when it’s hard.

Love is not a warm fuzzy feeling, but participation in God’s activity on earth. 

“Love God and He will enable you to love others even when they disappoint you.” ~Francine Rivers

When I began The Faith Project I had no idea where the adventure would lead me. Now we're half-way and I've discovered and grown. Here are the highlights.

3. Wisdom – to dig deep into God’s Word and commit more of it to memory.

God wants you and me to be faithful and wise, loving and obedient. He wants us to trust and obey, to seek truth and to be still in His presence. Because He knows those are the things that will make us happy. Without them, well . . . it’s harder. No. Scratch that. It’s almost impossible.

I will continue to spend time with the Lord and ask Him for wisdom. I want to get better at memorizing His Word . . . and will continue focusing on that in the weeks ahead.

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. Proverbs 3:18

4. Prayer – to spend more time with God in intentional conversation.

Three things I learned digging deep into prayer:

#1 JUST PRAY! The more I have made prayer my focus, not reading about it or talking about it but actually doing it . . . the more I’ve looked forward to spending time in prayer.
#2 Be yourself! God hears every prayer. He knows your heart and mine. He loves us and wants to spend personal time with us.
#3 Trust Him! Pray in His will. Pray for His will to be done. You and I can trust Him. He sees the beginning from the end. He wants and knows how to accomplish what is best in out lives.

I don’t think I will ever feel like I spend enough time in prayer. That “pray without ceasing” thing. I want that!

“Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude — an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.” ~Arthur Pink

When I began The Faith Project I had no idea where the adventure would lead me. Now we're half-way and I've discovered and grown. Here are the highlights.

5. Humility – to focus on who God is, His holiness and His character and why I need Him.

I think humility has been my favorite so far. I had a very limited view of what it means to live out humility before that month of study. I’m still working to apply all I’ve learned.

You  can learn more about that here… 10 of the Most Important Things I Learned and You Need to Know about Humility.  

The #1 thing I learned about humility…
Humble people don’t think they’re humble.

6. Patience – to learn more and better understand the act of waiting on God.

This month has been the hardest so far. I shouldn’t be surprised. Patience is hard and I think I’ve had mine challenged in every possible way. Whew! I’ll admit, I’m glad this month is over.

I will never practice perfect patience and living in this sinful world needs patience. So, with God’s help I’ll take it one day at a time and ask God to strengthen me and give me all I need to follow where He leads me and wait when He asks. Because…

Living outside of God’s will and timing is never a plan for long-term peace and joy. 

6 Months Into the Faith Project

This has been more of an adventure than I imagined.

As I hoped, my faith has grown. I’ve learned so much especially in the areas of freedom, wisdom, and humility.

I’ve learned I need more patience—NOW.

I’ve learned every aspect of my faith begins vertically and is then lived out horizontally.

My faith is growing. The living out of my faith . . . whew, is being challenged.

So, I think The Faith Project is exactly what I hoped it would be and I can’t wait to see what the next six months will bring. I hope you’ll stick with me as we dig deep into:

Stillness – to listen for His voice and know His will.
Goodness – to obey God’s daily will for my life.
Peace – to commit to completely trusting God’s will for me.
Worship – to focus on praise and worship – remembering it’s not about me.
Gratitude – to thank God for countless perfectly chosen blessings.
Joy – to take delight in Jesus – Emmanuel, God with us.

Meanwhile, I’ll take a stand with Rev. Charles Kingsley, and say…

“I do not want merely to possess a faith, I want a faith that possesses me.” 

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Freedom – What’s Good and What Needs to be Better

Freedom in Christ doesn't happen overnight. I'm taking a look at what's good and what needs to be better. We'd love to have you join the conversation.

The last post of the month – The Faith Project look at Freedom – What’s Good and What Needs to be Better.

Freedom from…

Sin, Death, and Satan’s Power
Your Past
Your Inner Pharisee
Fear

Freedom to…

Sin Boldly
To Worship in Spirit and Truth
Plan Your Messy Life
Be Who You’re Created to Be
LIVE

So, What’s Good?

After this month-long look at freedom, I am more confident of who I am in Christ. I am free.

You are too. You are free!

True, you’ve heard this ever since you first heard about Jesus, but do you really believe it? Really?

Have you completely rejected your inner Pharisee? Are you free from trying to please God to earn His favor? Are you filled with His peace? Are you able to reject the enemy’s lies? How about the fear He throws at you?

By God’s grace, I’m doing better. I am able to get up each morning and say, “My Father loves me.” His love never includes an if. He will not love us more – if. Nor will He love us less – if.

God’s love never includes an if. #thefaithproject #blessings #myfatherlovesme

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That truth is helping me to completely let go of the past. That’s huge!

Freedom in Christ doesn't happen overnight. I'm taking a look at what's good and what needs to be better. We'd love to have you join the conversation.

It’s also helping me worry less about what others are doing. My inner Pharisee shrinks when I pray with compassion and love. And my goal is to pray about everything.

As a side note – Rev and I finally watched War Room last week. Wow! If you haven’t seen it yet, please watch it as soon as possible. You’ll know why there are so many pins and posts on how to set up your war room.

If you need a spark to add passion to your prayers . . . this is it. Too many of us are praying weenie prayers.

I would say I was simply trusting God to do what’s best and that He knows my heart and my prayers whether I fall to my knees or not and cry them out to Him. And while that’s all true. I believe I’m missing out on so much when I fail to go to battle with my prayers.

Back to The Faith Project

Taking a closer look at worship has really blessed me. I’m going to church services praying that God will take my focus off my preferences asking Him to help me simply center my focus on who He is and why I’m there. I’m also trying to spend time every day intentionally worshipping Him simply for who He is. Wow! What a way to change my attitude!

What Needs to be Better?

I’m still planner challenged. That isn’t going to change in a week’s time. I appreciate all of your encouragement. Many of you told me to stick with it and not give up. Thank you! I’d love to know more of your favorite tips.

You’d think after six decades I’d be comfortable in my own skin. Not so much. So . . . I’m still asking God to give me His peace and use me as He wants. Old habits of second guessing and dissatisfaction are hard to give up; so, that’s a prayer I’m taking to my war room.

My takeaway for the month – Freedom, real freedom, in Christ Jesus is an amazing gift from God . . . one to wholeheartedly embrace 24/7.

If you missed any of the conversations on freedom
you can find the links at the top of this post.

Please take a minute or two to tell me how you’re doing.
How are you embracing God’s grace?
How is He giving you freedom?
Where are you digging deep after Him?
What is your biggest challenge?

Finally, I have something to ask you. Will you please join me in crying out to God for our nation?

I’ve been thinking about Old Testament “politics” lately. The Children of Israel were afraid of the nations around them so they begged God to give them a king. He told them they didn’t need a king because they had Him. But they whined, complained, and pleaded; so, He gave them what they wanted.
And it didn’t turn out well for them!
Will you join me in praying that God will give us the leaders He knows will best lead our nation!
May we start a prayer revival.
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14–15
And will you please spread the word and ask people to join in praying this simple prayer:

Please share this - may we start a prayer revival that God will direct us as we vote for those who will lead our nation.

Now it’s time for…

Faith ‘n Friends Blog Hop

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We’re so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

Hosts

Faith ‘n Friends
Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Deb Wolf
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Tai East 
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Feature Post

by Jed Jurchenko

@ Coffee Shop Conversations

What Every Blogger Needs to Know

Casual woman using laptop at coffee shop

Thank you, Jed, for joining FnF Blog Hop!

No More Rules Blog Hop

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.

We would appreciate it if you would
Grab the Button or link back to the hosts.

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What’s Getting in the Way of Your Freedom?

It is for freedom you have been set free. What is getting in the way of your freedom? Maybe it's time to do a personal assessment. Want to join me?

Bring Good News to the poor.
Proclaim that captives will be released,
 The blind will see, and the oppressed will be set free.

Those words may sound familiar. They come from Sunday’s Bible readings found in Luke 4 and I’m guessing the subject preached on from many pulpits.

I don’t often share my thoughts on Sunday’s sermon here at CMB, but this week’s message seemed like the perfect way to bring this month on freedom to a close. (Friday will be another personal update post.)

My childhood pastor preached loooong sermons. When asked about them he used to say he preached until he saw the people hanging their heads then he knew they’d gotten it. He knew they were taking the message personally and were no longer thinking ‘you tell them, pastor.’ He preached the Law before he shared the Gospel.

My dad often says that we don’t hear the Law much anymore. Pastors don’t want to offend. They want to fill the seats so they tell people what they want to hear. And while that may be true in some places, our  pastor has come into 2016 with a boldness that is blessing us. One I want to tell you about…

He started the year talking about Truth – that there is light and there is darkness. There is a battle going on in the spiritual realm every day, and that battle leaves its mark on you and me. Each week in the series he has touched on life specifics where we as believers can be changed and maybe even influence change in our families and communities.

Back to Luke 4 –

Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth. He’d been invited to read aloud from Isaiah.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
    for the Lord has anointed me
    to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
    and to proclaim that captives will be released
    and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
    that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. Isaiah 61:1–2

Then Jesus . . . rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then He began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke 4:20–21

Jesus came to give us freedom. Good news to the poor. Comfort to the brokenhearted. Freedom to captives and prisoners.

You and I have everything we need to live completely free.

If the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:36

But…

We don’t really live “truly free.”

(This is where Sunday’s message comes in.)

When you and I fill our lives with anything other than God’s best for us found in a relationship with Jesus we’ve sacrificed some of our true freedom in Christ. And there are so many things trying to convince us they’re viable substitutes.

Our pastor started with a list of things like marijuana, alcohol, Oxycontin, steak, ice cream and pickles. Not to discuss or debate the individual items as right or wrong, legal or illegal, but to start us thinking. He added entertainment. And what about social media?

Anything we consistently use to numb the pain and fill the emptiness.

What’s getting in the way of your freedom?

I can’t imagine anyone there not squirming a little. We all have our “thing.” Our substitute void filler. Things in the space that Jesus alone could be filling.

And friend we’re missing out. We’re missing the fullness of hope and joy, peace and satisfaction Jesus has for us right here right now.

I began The Faith Project with freedom. Freedom from sin, my past, self-righteous judgment, and fear. Freedom to sin boldly, worship in spirit and truth, plan my day with God’s help and to be who I’m created to be.

Today, as I think about the biggest thing I want to take from this first month of the year, it’s that in Jesus I have the freedom to LIVE.

Our pastor said, “Don’t undermine what God has already undone.”

It is for freedom you have been set free. What is getting in the way of your freedom? Maybe it's time to do a personal assessment. Want to join me?

Paul said it this way in Galatians 5:1, So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 

Make sure that you stay free!

We’ve been delivered. We’ve been given freedom.

Still in Galatians 5 Paul goes on to say we have been given the Spirit of Christ who wants to fill the void of our lives with, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” v. 22–23

Everything else just gets in the way of, “Jesus being our all in all.”

So, I’m doing an assessment this week. I taking a close look at anything I might be allowing into my Jesus space. I’m looking at the time I spend on entertainment and social media. My choices in food and beverages. My shopping habits. And anything else that might be getting in the way of true freedom. Not from a right or wrong trying to earn God’s favor by trying to do it right, but from the realization that I could be missing out God’s best all because of bad habits.

I don’t want to miss the blessings of love, joy, peace or anything else God wants for me because I’ve settled for the world’s less.

Are you with me? Are you ready to LIVE? Really LIVE. FREE!

Freedom Update – The Good and Not So Good

Two weeks into The Faith Project. It's time for an update. A freedom update. Are you making progress living in freedom Let's talk...

Two weeks into The Faith Project and it’s time for the first update.

So, how’s it going? Well, some good and some not so good.

The Good

Trusting that my freedom is complete because of Jesus is going great. I believe Jesus has made me:

1. Free from the guilt and shame of sin.
2. Free from slavery to sin.
3. Free from the lies we tell ourselves

He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:7

I am following through . . . confessing and repenting each day for two reasons . . . to remember that God’s gifts of grace and forgiveness are daily and ongoing and to help me stay mindful of the things I need, with God’s help, to change.

Two weeks into The Faith Project. It's time for an update. A freedom update. Are you making progress living in freedom Let's talk.

The Not So Good

Letting go of the past is hard for me.

I know the truth – If Jesus has set me free, I am free truly free. John 8:36

But I do guilt really well. REALLY WELL. I can feel guilty about things that aren’t my fault. Things other people have done. I can still feel guilty over things that happened years ago. Things I know God has forgiven. Things I trust people have forgiven.

But, there’s a problem…

I’m susceptible to the enemy’s lies. When he whispers shame or points his gnarly finger I’m quick to agree with him.

You too?

Then join me. It’s time to hold on to God’s promises of who we are and quote them to Satan each time he throws our pasts at us.

Promises like…

Holding on to guilt and shame is believing your forgiveness is up to you. It's not. You are forgiven. Your past is forgiven. You can let it go..

Here are a few more promises to help:

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 10:11–12

Where is the god who can compare with You—wiping the slate clean of guilt,
Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people?
You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That’s what You love most.
And compassion is on its way to us.
You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing.
You’ll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean. Micah 7:19

“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” Isaiah 43:25

If God promises to forget our sins, to never think of them again . . . I think we should too.

The Better 

Not good, but better is getting free of my inner Pharisee.

Pride shouts Pharisee. Not pride that feels good about an accomplishment or a job well done. But pride that thinks I’m better than. Pride that says, “I’m glad I’m not as bad as everyone else.” Paraphrase of Luke 18:11

I hate that kind of pride in me because it doesn’t love well. Pride points fingers and fails to offer compassion and help. That’s not who I want to be.

So, I’ll keep taking the Are you a Pharisee Heart Check. I’ll keep asking for the forgiveness I know I need. And I’ll pray that for the Holy Spirit’s help to look at everyone through my Father’s eyes.

More Good

When I introduced The Faith Project I mentioned I was a little nervous about sharing my successes and failures publicly. What I didn’t mention was my nervousness about potential attacks from Satan as I worked to change and grow in faith.

Oh, how he hates that. So of course, I’d get tested right away in an area of weakness . . . fear.

In the past month, I’ve had a couple of health issues. Things that had the potential to send me into a fear freefall.

I’ll be honest. I was nervous as I waited those days between doctors appointment and tests, but the good . . . I wasn’t in a panic. I wasn’t afraid.

Sure. I’d love to live many more years healthy and with minimal pain, but I trust God’s got me. I can count on His promises as I look back on His faithfulness. I can say, “Back off. God is with me. He’s got this.”

Thankfully, most of the news has been good. Praise God!

So…

My Freedom Update:

  1. It’s a daily adventure and one I’ll have to keep applying well into the future.
  2. My progress will be challenged and will include some steps backward.
  3. I’m not on my own. God is with me. He’s with you too.
  4. You, my encouragers are a huge help.

Speaking of you. Thank you! When I started this I wondered if it was something anyone would care about. When everyone was talking about their word for the year, I had my doubts.

But you’re awesome! Your comments and help to get the word out blesses my socks off.

Now it’s time for…

Faith ‘n Friends Blog Hop

Faith 'n Friends Blog Hop - Have you joined the party yet?

We’re so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

Hosts

Faith ‘n Friends
Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Deb Wolf
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Tai East 
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Feature Post

by Lori Schumacher

@ Searching for Moments

The Doors I Shut

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Thank you, Lori, for joining FnF Blog Hop!

The Rules

1.) Follow your hosts via their blog and/or social media channels.
This is not mandatory, but appreciated!

2.) Leave 1-2 of your most recent faith/life posts.
We reserve the right to delete posts that are deemed inappropriate.

3.) Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment!
We want to encourage friendship, so please don’t link and run!
You were awesome visiting each other last week. Thank you! 

4.) All links are randomly sorted – so link as early or as late as you’d like.
The playing field is even!

 Each host will choose one link to feature and promote via their social media channels next week.

In order to be featured next week:

Grab a button or link back to Faith ’n Friends.
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if you are chosen as next week’s feature. 

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Thankful Thirty – Boundaries and the Gift of Freedom

Do you like boundaries? Some people push against them. Others consider them safe. And safe inside the boundaries is the joy of complete freedom.

I like to know the boundaries. What works. What doesn’t. Then I usually move the boundaries in just a bit for extra safety.

Why?

Because inside the boundaries I’m free to be me. I don’t have to worry about disasters or their consequences. I’m sure I sound terribly boring to you risk takers, but I’ve never liked living on the edge. I like the freedom found in the middle.

More importantly I love the freedom that comes from God’s grace, mercy, and love. Freedom given in and through Jesus. Through forgiveness. And in knowing God’s will inside His boundaries. There is safety, joy, and happiness found in that space. Blessings that will never fail and that can never be taken away.

God’s gift of freedom. Not given by nation or people. Not found in opinion or attitude. But freedom founded on the person of Jesus. On Truth.

That to me is the blessing of freedom.

Quotes

So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:6–7

Do you like boundaries? Some people push against them. Others consider them safe. And safe inside the boundaries is the joy of complete freedom.

“There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought.” ~Charles Kingsley

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:32

“To serve God, to love God, to enjoy God, is the sweetest freedom in the world.” ~Thomas Watson

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

“The fear of man strangles us, because we can never please everybody; but the fear of the Lord frees us, because it challenges us to live and serve for an audience of One.” ~Paul Chappell

God sent Him (Jesus) to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. Galatians 4:5

“The paradox of faith is that when we conform our lives to Christ then we gain our true freedom. And its fruit is profound and lasting happiness.” ~Vincent Nichols

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13

Friends you and I have been given a wonderful gift. Freedom to choose. Freedom of thought. Freedom of action. How and what we do with it is up to us.

But…

We are not left alone to figure it out.

With the gift God gives us truth and direction. He gives us His Spirit who pours into us everything we need to live with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23) Everything we need to live in freedom, safely inside the boundaries. 

Father, Thank you for the gift of freedom. Freedom to choose. Freedom through forgiveness. Freedom in Jesus! Your grace truly is amazing. Forgive me for misusing Your gift and help me to use it well going forward. Help me to use it to love and serve You well. In and through my Lord and Savior, Jesus. Amen.

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